Category: Game Reviews

Developer: Budcat Creations Publisher: EA Released: September 13, 2001 Rated: E 6/10 The concern that another Madden released for last-gen hardware would be treated as less-than is more valid with the release of Madden 2002. And it’s true, this version of Madden 2002, released in between versions for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PC, GameBoy Color, GameBoy… Read more

Developer: Neversoft (Original Version), Edge of Reality (N64 Port) Publisher: Activision Released: August 21, 2001 Rated: T 9/10 With the Pro Skater series now a firmly established reference point of what an extreme sports game can be, rather than merely a new and exciting foray into the counterculture, evaluating Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 on… Read more

Developer: Neversoft (Original Version), Edge of Reality (N64 Port) Publisher: Activision Released: March 15, 2000 Rated: E 8/10 The catalyst of the extreme sports gaming boom in the late-‘90s to mid-2000s, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater first debuted on the PlayStation in fall of 1999. Carrying a sense of authenticity that rarely survived the transfer process… Read more

Developer: Hudson Publisher: Nintendo Released: May 7, 2001 Rated: E 9/10 I remember growing up as an avid Game Informer reader (RIP) that Mario Party, as a series, was often considered a punchline at best and a punching bag at worst. As someone who enjoyed the early entries he had played, while only having really… Read more

Developer: Hudson Publisher: Nintendo Released: January 24, 2000 9/10 Rated: E Although in no way is there any definitive ranking, either within the N64 trilogy or the series as a whole, I have often seen discussions regarding Mario Party 3 as the best of the three, and the original as the weakest, and I think… Read more

Developer: Hudson Publisher: Nintendo Released: February 8, 1999 E 9/10 Far from the “humble beginnings” vibe that some other titles might give off when looking at them in retrospect, the first Mario Party still isn’t perfect out of the gate, as many ideas, pacing problems, balancing factors, and more don’t necessarily pan out on this… Read more

Developer: Nintendo R&D1 Publisher: Nintendo Released: April 9, 2001 Rated: E 8/10 It’s very rare that a Nintendo product, particularly one released in such a distantly bygone era and coming from its main development house, can be described as “what it says on the tin.” Even more rare is the adage that “if it ain’t… Read more

Developer: Nintendo EAD, HAL Laboratory Publisher: Nintendo Released: March 28, 2001 Rated: E 9/10 Whatever expectations may have been tempered in looking back on Pokémon Stadium as a standalone title, it’s a pleasure to say that Pokémon Stadium 2 does more than just add Generation II to the formula. The Swiss Army knife of features… Read more

Developer: Rare Publisher: Nintendo Released: August 25, 1997 Rated: T 10/10 It’s possible that at some point in the past decade or so, you may have heard that Goldeneye 007 — one of the original, foundational bricks in the legacy of the prolific console FPS genre — has aged poorly. As someone who grew up… Read more

Developer: H2O Entertainment Publisher: THQ Released: March 20, 2001 2/10 Rated: T Maybe we all owe Quest 64 a little apology. I, personally, grew up never understanding what anybody saw in that game and to this day, I still dislike it. But at least that game tried. Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage sneaks in just… Read more